"We must run in under the land, Taylor," I said, trembling with suppressed excitement.
"We must certainly dodge those three beggars." He nodded and gave orders for the wheel to be put round hard to port. Round came the dear little craft, beautifully (she was a regular demon for turning, performing the manœuvre easily in her own length) and we headed dead for the rocky coast.
"Half-speed," I shouted, and instantly "cling-clang!" rang out the indicator bell as they put the engines down as I had ordered.
We were not observed as yet, but the fog was rapidly lifting now, and soon we should be well within sight of the French, and the greatest caution was necessary.
So for the next hour we crept slowly along, all eyes fixed on the forest of masts ahead of us. It was by this time nearly pitch dark, an unusual thing for the time of the year, which we put down to the dense fog. It had lifted from the face of the waters, but would still be hanging like a thick pall overhead.
As we advanced we could clearly see the great fleet of the enemy, lying well on our port side, only about eight miles distant, and spread out so as to cover a great extent.
We were right in under the shadow of the rocks, as close in now as I dared venture, for although our draught was very light, the coast is a most treacherous one, and any moment a sunken rock might do us irreparable harm. All at once a broad bright streak of brilliant light shot up into the dark and moonless night, followed first by one or two, and then by many others, which crossed and recrossed the horizon perpetually. The French had begun to work their searchlights!
"THE FRENCH BEGAN TO WORK THEIR SEARCHLIGHTS."
And now commenced the real difficulty of our task. Should we venture to even cross one of those brilliant paths of light so vividly flashing all around us, we must inevitably be discovered. Speaking in whispers, hardly daring even to breathe, I cautiously guided the little vessel in and out and to and fro, so as to avoid if possible those argus eyes. But no calculation, no precaution, could be of any use to us now, and I knew not at what instant one of those lights might be directed full on us, and reveal every detail of our vessel in its pitilessly searching glare.